Goofs:

Continuity: When Guy runs toward Jill as she is leaving the party to keep her from going to Billy, his left hand is covered with blood. When he returns to Billy and puts his hand under Billy's head, there is no blood on his hand.See more »

15 years after its release, I finally get to see what to my knowledge is the
only english-speaking film that tells the story of Indonesia circa the 1965
revolution.

A very young Gibson is convincing as the inexperienced but ambitious
reported determined to make his mark in telling the story of Sukarno's last
moments in power. Equally brilliant is Sigourney Weaver, and yet one feels
that this film did not give her the opportunity to show her true
calibre.

The one who ultimately steals the show, then, is Linda Hunt, playing the
enigmatic and passionate Billy, who understands the true psyche of Indonesia
better than any of the other foreign characters in this
story.

When Billy solemnly expresses his disappointment to Guy, proclaiming, "I
created you", it evoked images of Weir's latest masterpiece, The Truman
Show, where Christof has fashioned the persona of Truman Burbank for his TV
spectacle. Perhaps a running theme in Peter Weir's work? Must check
out...

I marvelled at the authenticity of the setting. It certainly looked like
Jakarta. The faces, the atmosphere, the buildings, and yet, those scenes
were shot in the Philippines, with mainly Filipino actors! Just goes to show
the similarity among Indonesia and the Philippines.

I see now why this film was never made available in Indonesia (to my
knowledge). The last few moments of the film show the stark reality of
communist executions by Soeharto's new military regime, horrifying pictures
of mere pawns being slaughtered... and the parting message from a
self-confessed PKI member:"Am I stupid for wanting to change my country's
condition?" is one of the best lines in this film.

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